Beating West Ham United 2-0 to open their Premier League title defence was the ideal start for Manchester City, avoiding a repeat of last term’s first-day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. After marquee signing Erling Haaland scored twice, City fans now get to see him in action at home for the first time and they will expect goals as newly promoted Bournemouth visit. Follow the action starting at 14:55 UK time with live audio commentary on Flashscore.
After all, the Cityzens scored at least three times in each of their last four home league fixtures (W4), many of them cooked up by the “kitchen in the apartment”, as manager Pep Guardiola recently described his creative-minded midfield. That could mean trouble is brewing for the visitors as Man City have never lost a H2H (W15, D2) that was as recently as 1998/99 a third-tier match-up!
Although widely tipped pre-season to return to the Championship this term, Bournemouth’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa showed they’re paying no attention to pre-season predictions. “My message to the players was to embrace the challenge,” manager Scott Parker said, days before club stalwart Adam Smith signed a new contract to add to the feel-good factor at the club.
But he and his fellow defenders will need to be at their best here, particularly considering that woeful H2H record, and after winning just one of their last ten PL away games (L9)! The Cherries last two visits here saw them defeated 2-1 so there is some hope they won’t get blown away by Haaland and co. this time.
Players to watch: Rodri netted in each of Man City’s last three home PL matches, twice between the 60th and 80th minute, while Kieffer Moore scored after the 75th minute in each of Bournemouth’s last three league games.
Hot stat: There’s been an average of five goals per game across Man City’s last five home league openers.
